News Eastern Europe Serbia

Romanes

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Romanes

Regarding the position of the Romani language and script in Serbia and the region, Salih Saitović, president of the Democratic Union of Roma, said that the Romani language is recognized almost exclusively as a spoken language, while the written form is neglected, without systemic and institutional support.

There we agree. Unfortunately, he also advocates a standardisation, which so far has not succeeded,

Italy News Western Europe

Italy and Crime

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Italy and Crime

Articles on Roma criminality are a staple of the Italian press. Here a gang of Sinti who robbed appartment were unmasked and arrested by the police. In fact, there are more articles about Roma and migrants criminality than about the mafia …

One wonders.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Mediators

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Mediators

Seven young Roma from Kotel and the villages in the municipality have been selected to train as mediators between the community and institutions. Four girls and three boys aged 16 to 24 will explain to people their rights will direct them to whom to turn in a specific case, explained Maria Hristova, chairwoman of the Association “Local Active Group – Kotel” under whose project the young Roma have been selected and will be trained.

“We have also planned mobile days, which we call “compass days” and will be field work, so young people will be able to meet people, work on real cases and guide, help and cooperate. They will act as mediators between the institutions and the community. If a person from a given settlement in the Kotel municipality does not know where to go to submit documents for social assistance, for example, or wants to learn more about a certain type of service, these young people will assist. They will also accompany elderly people to the institutions,” said Maria Hristova.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Roma “Problem”

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Roma “Problem”

The Vstani Roma Child association of Slovenia responded to the proposals of the Dolenjska People’s Initiative, which prompted the latter to resond.

They said that instead of discussing security and the situation in southeastern Slovenia, the discussion is once again reduced to personal discrediting and accusations of “sedition”. According to them, the term “human rights” is too often used as a cover to justify illegal actions, while the hardships of the local population are pushed to the sidelines.

The initiative believes that the main issue is due to a long-standing policy of indulgence towards Roma and Roma criminality.

Of course, they do not think that the general population has anything to do with the problem…

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: New Housing

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Slovakia: New Housing

In early February, the Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma Communities approved three more projects aimed at improving housing in municipalities included in the Atlas of Roma Communities, totaling over 6.6 million euros. The investments are directed to Rudny, Chminianske Jakubovy and Gemerská Hôrka, where new or renovated housing is to help almost three hundred residents.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Counter-Protest in Novo Mesto

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Counter-Protest in Novo Mesto

A pre-election confrontation on Roma issues could occur in Novo Mesto.

Silvo Mesojedec announced sharply: “Enough excuses: Who dares to come to Novo Mesto?”

He sent an invitation to all the presidents of parliamentary parties to a pre-election confrontation on Roma issues.

“The residents of Southeast Slovenia know that security is tested every day. For decades, we have been listening to promises from Ljubljana, while problems on the ground are only accumulating. Now, before the elections, we demand answers,” announced Silvo Mesojedec, coordinator of the People’s Initiative Dolenjska. According to him, the invitation was received by Robert Golob, Janez Janša, Jernej Vrtovec, Matjaž Han, Asta Vrečko and Anže Logar.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Roma Protests in Novo Mesto

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Roma Protests in Novo Mesto

The association Vstani Romaski otrok is announcing a rally for Tuesday afternoon at Glavni trg in Novo mesto, with which they will express their disagreement with the social welfare confiscations based on the Šutar Act. They expect between 100 and 300 Roma, who will also present the hardships that some of them have found themselves in due to the aforementioned foreclosures, the president of the association Matej Domijan told STA.

It is not sure they will get an athorisation. The municipality rejected the firstr submission stating that documents were missung, and the association resubmitted the request.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

The French on Balkan Roma History

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The French on Balkan Roma History

As part of the cycle of Serbian-French talks on the history of the Balkans, the French Institute in Serbia will host the distinguished French historian Bernard Laurie, who will participate in panels dedicated to the history of Roma in the Balkans, in Belgrade on February 3 and in Niš on February 4, 2026.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia Roma Program

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Slovakia Roma Program

People are protesting against the proposed governmental Roma proram, to which 17 mio. Euros are allocated.

Former MEP Peter Pollák Sr. pointed out that after conversion, the project comes out to approximately 85 thousand euros per participant, while the result is only a certificate without real benefits. He says that up to nine million euros are to be directed to project management and trainers. He also criticizes the method of preparing the project, which, according to him, was created without expert discussion, involvement of local governments and people from the field.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia: Protest

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Slovenia: Protest

Roma organisations were planning a protest today in Novo Mesto against the Šutar Act and its implementation which has by now deprived people of all means of existence.

It was not sure in the press whether wthe protest would be allowed, so let’s see what is reported tomorrow.

Germany News Western Europe

Antigyspyism

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Antigyspyism

Against anti-Gypsyism – for social inclusion: For the SPD in the Bavarian State Parliament, combating anti-Gypsyism is a permanent political obligation. The Social Democrats want to strengthen the rights of Sinti and Roma and guarantee their social inclusion – something that is not yet fully ensured. Markus Rinderspacher, the SPD’s European affairs expert, is calling on the state government to take even stronger action against anti-Gypsyism. “Anti-Gypsyism has no place in Bavaria. We must learn from the past, preserve our memories, and strengthen the inclusion of Sinti and Roma today and in the future.”

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Funeral of Ladislav Goral

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Funeral of Ladislav Goral

The longtime Roma activist Ladislav Gorav’s funeral took place in Prague today.

Montenegro News Eastern Europe

Montenegro and Elections

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Montenegro and Elections

After a complaint by the ERRC, the Montenegrin Onbudsman wants to reform the registration rules that he sees as biased against Roma.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: Riot

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Bulgaria: Riot

Tensions between two groups of Roma in the Pleven village of Bukovlak seem to be boiling over, requiring police action. Witnesses claim that groups of Roma gathered in different places in the village, some of them holding sticks, stakes, shovels, axes and other hard objects.

Bad.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Budapest: Protest

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Budapest: Protest

More than 1’000 people  among which many Roma, protested on Saturday against the racist comments of the construction and Transport Minister Janos Lazar, requisquing his dismissal. He had said in a meeting that Roma should clean shitty train toilets.

Germany News Western Europe

Prof. Dr. Rita Süssmuth

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Prof. Dr. Rita Süssmuth

The Documentation and Cultural Centre and the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma mourn the loss of Prof. Dr. Rita Süssmuth, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 88. “Sinti and Roma owe Rita Süssmuth a great debt of gratitude. She not only supported the work of the Central Council for many years, but also campaigned at the political level for the realization of the Documentation and Cultural Centre in Heidelberg,” emphasized Romani Rose, Chairman of the Central Council and Managing Director of the Documentation and Cultural Centre.

France Hungary News Eastern Europe News Western Europe

French version of Lazar

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French version of Lazar

Several articles on Janos Lazar and on his by now infamous statement that Roma should clean shitty train toilets in the French press.

France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Not much in France this week, appart from quite a few articles on Janos Lazar, see our other post there).

A camp near Paris will not be closed, to the dismal of the residents around it. And in Nantes, 3 Roma are condemned for burglaries.

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